willemain



Feb. 21, 1956 F. H. WlLLEMAlN COMBINED SLICE AND ADJUSTABLE DECKLEMECHANISM FOR FOURDRINIER MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1954IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 21, 1956 F. H. WILLEMAIN COMBINED SLICE AND ADJUSTABLE mom:MECHANISM FOR FOURDRINIER MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1954INVENTOR.

Feb. 21, 1956 F. H. WlLLEMAlN 2,735,343

COMBINED SLICE AND ADJUSTABLE DECKLE MECHKNISM FOR FOURDRINIER MACHINEFiled Dec. 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

JZ /mza W BYTE a 1214 Feb. 21, 1956 F. H. WILLEMAIN COMBINED SLICE ANDADJUSTABLE DECKLE Filed Dec. 20, 1954 MECHANISM FOR FOURDRINIER MACHINE5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 A L A! 1% IN VEN TOR.

F 1956 F. H. WILLEMAIN COMBINED SLICE AND ADJUSTABLE DECKLE MECHANISMFOR FOURDRINIER MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 20, 1954 INVENT0R.

United States atent CONBINED SLICE ADJUSTABLE DECKLE MECHANISM FORFOURDRNIER MACHINE Fenland Willemain, Hoiyoke, Mass, assignor toAmerican Writing Paper Corporation, Holyoke, Mass, a corporation ofDelaware Application December 20, 1954, Serial No. 476,347

6 Claims. (Cl. 92-44) This invention relates to improvements in papermaking and is directed more particularly to improvements in deckle andslice mechanism at the web forming end of a Fourdrinier paper makingmachine.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of apparatus forthe forming end of a Fourdrinier machine constructed and arranged toprovide various widths of deckle relative to slice means. It is oftendesired to provide a width of deckle less than that for which the papermachine is designed and to accomplish changes in width the deckle strapscommonly used are moved relative to one another transversely of themachine.

It is also desired that the slice means be positioned intermediate theends of the deckle straps but in such a case the width of deckles may bechanged only by provision of a special slice for each deckle width or aslice which is adjustable transversely. In either case due to the slicearrangement there results down time of the machine which isobjectionable from a cost and manufacturing standpoint.

According to the novel features of the invention there is provided atthe forming end of the Fourdrinier machine, slice mechanisms disposedintermediate the ends of deckle means which is arranged in combinationwith the slice mechanism for adjustment of the deckle mechanism to varythe width of deckle Without requiring slice changes thereby overcomingobjectionable down time of the machine and complicated and costly slicemechanisms.

According to a special feature of the invention the deckle and slicemechanisms are such as to function for their intended purposes and tocooperate for deckling and sheet or web formation without the decklemechanism being dependent on the slice mechanism.

In a broad way slice mechanisms extend across the machine for theformation of a web or sheet of maximum while deckle means rearwardly andforwardly of the slice mechanism is arranged for changing the widthdeckle at any time.

According to novel features of the invention the deckle means is notonly adjustable transversely but is adjustable vertically relative tothe wire while the slice mechanism is independently adjustable relativeto said wire.

The construction of the invention is associated with the forming end ofthe Fourdrinier machine as the opposite side walls may be established orwith walls provided with the slice and deckle means.

All of the above cited objects I accomplish by means of such structureand relative arrangement of parts thereof, as will fully appear by aperusal of the description below and by various specific features whichwill be hereinafter set forth.

To these above and other ends and with the foregoing and various otherand ancillary features and advantages and objects of my invention aswill become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, myinvention consists in certain features of novelty, in a mode ofoperation, and in the combination, organization, and arrangeice them ofparts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claimshereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of slice and deckle apparatusembodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view on the line 3--3 of Fig: 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the front side of the apparatus shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view on the line 6-6 ofFig. 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are side and end elevational views of the secondarydeckle;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view on the line 99 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a partial elevational view of the side wall of the apparatusshowing the sealing strip associated therewith;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevational view on the line 1111 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional elevational view on the line 12-42 ofFig. l; and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view to show the relationship of thedeckles and slices of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail the novel features of theinvention will be fully described.

As in Fig. l a breast roll 2, a series of table rolls 4 and theFourdrinier forming wire 6 are shown by dash lines. There aretransversely spaced side walls 10 and an apron 12, all of which areusual in a Fourdrinier paper making machine. The rear ends of the sidewalls It are connected to end walls such as 14 and a stock inlet isrepresented by 16.

Elongated extensions 18 are secured at the forward outer ends of theside walls 10 and opposite ends of transverse struts 20 are securedtherein to provide strength and rigidity to the structure.

A pair of elongated primary transversely adjustable deckle members 22.extend forwardly between the side walls 10 from the inlet. These members22 have lower feet 24 for overlying the moving Fourdrinier wire. Saidmembers will be formed from material not likely to injure or cause wearto the wire. Various plastic materials will be suitable for the purpose.The primary deckle members 22 are slidably adjustable on transverse rods26 which are threaded. Nuts 23 on said rods clamp the members inadjusted positions.

Rails 30 which may be in the form of channels are secured along upperedges of the side walls It). Brackets 32 on the rails 30 of oppositewalls 10 have depending arms 34 to which the rods 25 are secured, seeFig. 9. lack screws 36 in threaded engagement with the brackets 32 havelower ends which abut the rails. Lock nuts 38 lock the screws in place.The jack screws may be rotated to raise or lower members 22 to positionthe under sides thereof as may be desired relative to the wire.

The primary deckle members may be adjusted transversely to provide thedesired width of deckle and are locked in place by the nuts 23 on therods 26.

A rigid slice 42 extends transversely between the side walls 10forwardly of the deckle members 22 and is suspended vertically from asupport 4-4. Said support has opposite ends thereof secured to brackets46 which are similar to the brackets 32 described. These brackets 46have adjusting screws 43 resting on the rails 30 to facilitate raisingand lowering the slice for adjustment of its lower edge relative to thewire.

A transverse upper strut 50 has opposite ends secured to upper sides ofthe rails 3% Supports, such as 52, are fixed to opposite ends of saidsupport 5% and are provided with elongated slots 54. Rods 56 threaded onupper ends are slidable along the slots and depend from member 52. Nuts58 in engagement with the rods lock the rods in various positions ofvertical adjustment.

Intermediate or secondary deckle mechanisms are carried by lower ends ofthe rods 56 such as indicated by 6%, in Figs. 7 and 8. Each said sliceincludes a pair of members 62 and 64 which are relatively slidable onpins 35 and are yieldably urged apart by a spring 68. These parts 62 and6-4 are provided with resilient sealing pads 70 and 72.

The pad 70 abuts the rigid slice 42 and the pad 72 abuts an angularlydisposed flexible slice 76. A plate 73 carried by a side of slice part62 overlaps a side of slice part 64 so as to seal the space between theslice parts. At the same time the deckles are sealed to the slicemembers. The pads 70 and 72 may be formed from sponge rubber, rubbercomposition or the like.

By moving the rods 56 along members 52 the secondary deckles may bemoved towards one another to vary the deckle.

The slice 76 has its upper end secured at St) to a leg 82 of atransverse slice carrier 84. Threaded rods 84' are pivoted at points 38along the lower lip of the slice 76 and adjusting wheels 58 on the rods86 are manipulated to adjust the lower lip of the slice 76 which isflexible for that purpose.

Brackets '77 on the rails 30 have inner legs 79 depend ing downwardlyinside of the side walls to which opposite ends of carrier 84 aresecured. Threaded rods 81 in engagement with the brackets 77 rest on therails so as to adjust the said brackets up and down and thereby adjustthe slice relative to the wire.

Elongated deckle rulers 100 extend forwardly from the flexible slice 79.Supports 102 are carried by the extensions 1S and extend outwardly andthen return inwardly in the form of elongated supports 19%. Links 106have bearing members 108 slidable on the supports 194 and the rulers 1%are connected to lower ends of the links 106.

The links may be moved along the supports 104 to adjust the rulerstransversely. Binding screws 110 in threaded engagement with the bearingmembers bind said bearing members in adjusted positions.

The supports 102 may be pivotally connected to the extensions 18 topermit longitudinal movements of the rulers 100 in adjusting the parts.

Sealing strips 120 of rubber or the like are provided at the lower endof the side walls and are held in place by clamp strips 122 and screws124 extending into the side walls. Other sealing strips 126 are clampedto the rulers 100 by clamp strips 123 and screws 130. Lower edges of thesealing strips act as seals on the Fourdrinier wire.

It will be observed that the slice mechanisms extend transverselybetween the walls 10 and are adjustable up and down relative to thewire. The primary and secondary deckle members and the deckle rulers areadjustable transversely and independently of the slices whereby thedesired width of deckle may be obtained without changes in the slicemechanism. Adjustments may be made easily and readily withoutdisassembling the machine and in providing for the desired decide thedeckle members and rulers may be adjusted to the desired alignment asindicated diagrammatically in Fig. 13.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely asbeing illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforegoing description and all modifications and variations as fallwithin the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appendedclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. Combined slice and deckle mechanism for Fourdrinier paper machinecomprising in combination, a structure including elongated transverselyspaced substantially vertical side walls and an inlet for paper stock atthe rear end thereof, a pair of elongated transversely spaced primarydeckle shoes extending forwardly from said inlet, a transverselydisposed rigid slice forwardly of said primary shoes, a pair oftransversely spaced secondary deckle shoes forwardly of said rigidslice, a transversely disposed flexible slice forwardly of saidsecondary shoes having a flexible lip, 21 pair of elongated transverselyspaced deckle edge rulers extending forwardly from said flexible slice,separate means connecting said primary and secondary shoes of the pairsthereof and said pair of deckle rulers to said structure arranged forrelative transverse adjustment of the shoes of the pairs thereof and ofthe said rulers of the pair thereof towards and away from one anotherand longitudinal alignment of said shoes and rulers.

2. Combined slice and deckle mechanism for Fourdrinier paper machinecomprising in combination, a structure including elongated transverselyspaced substantially vertical side walls and an inlet for paper stock atthe rear end thereof, a pair of elongated transversely adjustableprimary shoes forwardly of said inlet, a transversely dis posed rigidslice forwardly of said primary shoes extending between said side walls,a pair of secondary transversely adjustable deckle shoes forwardly ofsaid rigid slice, a transversely disposed flexible slice forwardly ofsaid secondary shoes extending between said side walls having a flexiblelower lip, a pair of elongated deckle edge rulers extending forwardlyfrom said flexible slice, separate means connecting said pairs ofprimary and said secondary shoes and said pair of deckle rulers to saidstructure arranged for independent relative transverse adjustment of theshoes of the pairs thereof and of the said rulers of the pair thereoftowards and away from one another and for longitudinal alignment of saidshoes and rulers, and separate means connecting said rigid and flexibleslice to said structure arranged for independent vertical adjustment ofsaid slices relative to said structure.

3. Combined slice and deckle mechanism for Fourdrinierpaper machinecomprising in combination, a structure having opposite transverselyspaced vertical side walls and a stock inlet at the rear end thereof, apair of elongated transversely spaced relatively adjustable primarydeckle shoes extending forwardly from said inlet, a vertical rigidtransversely disposed slice forwardly of said primary shoes extendingbetween said walls, a pair of secondary transversely spaced relativelyadjustable deckle shoes forwardly of said rigid slice, a transverselydisposed flexible slice forwardly of said secondary shoes extendingbetween said walls having a lower transverse flexible lip, a pair ofelongated transversely spaced relatively adjustable deckle rulersextending forwardly from said flexible slice, separate bracket meanssupporting said primary shoes from said walls arranged for up and downvertical adjustment of said shoes and transverse adjustment thereoftowards and away from one another and longitudinally of said rigidslice, other bracket means supporting said slices from said wallsarranged for independent up and down vertical adjustment thereof, andmeans for adjusting the flexible lip of the flexible slice.

4. Combined slice and deckle mechanism for Fourdrinier paper machinecomprising in combination, a structure having opposite transverselyspaced vertical side walls and a stock inlet at the rear end thereof, apair of elongated transversely spaced relatively adjustable primarydeckle shoes extending forwardly from said inlet, a vertical rigidtransversely disposed slice forwardly of said primary shoes extendingbetween said side walls, a pair of secondary transversely spacedrelatively adjustable deckle shoes forwardly of said rigid slice, atransversely disposed flexible slice forwardly of said secondary shoeshaving a lower transverse flexible lip, a pair of elongated transverselyspaced relatively adjustable deckle rulers eX- tending forwardly fromsaid flexible slice, separate bracket means supporting said primaryshoes from said walls adapted and arranged for up and down verticaladjustment of said shoes and transverse adjustment thereof towards andaway from one another and longitudinally of said rigid slice, otherbracket means supporting said slices from said walls arranged forindependent up and down vertical adjustment thereof, means for adjustingthe lip of the flexible slice, and separate means supporting the shoesof the secondary pair thereof from said walls adapted and arranged foradjustment of said shoes up and down and towards and away from oneanother and longitudinally of said slices.

5. Combined slice and deckle mechanism for Fourdrinier paper machinecomprising in combination, a structure having opposite transverselyspaced vertical side walls and a stock inlet at the rear end thereof, apair of elongated transversely spaced relatively adjustable primarydeckle shoes extending forwardly from said inlet, a vertical rigidtransversely disposed slice forwardly of said primary shoes extendingbetween said side walls, a pair of secondary transversely spaced deckleshoes for- Wardly of said rigid slice, a transversely disposed flexibleslice forwardly of said secondary shoes extending between said wallshaving a transverse flexible lip, a pair of elongated transverselyspaced relatively adjustable deckle rulers extending forwardly from saidflexible slice, bracket means supporting said primary shoes from saidwalls arranged for up and down vertical adjustment of said shoes andtransverse adjustment thereof towards and away from one another andlongitudinally of said slice, bracket means supporting said slices fromsaid walls arranged for independent up and down vertical adjustmentthereof, means for adjusting the lip of the flexible slice, separatemeans supporting the shoes of the secondary pair thereof from said wallsarranged for adjustment of said shoes up and down and towards and awayfrom one another, and means supporting the deckle rulers from saidstructure arranged for transverse relative adjustment thereof relativeto one another and longitudinally of said flexible slice.

6. Combined slice and deckle mechanism for the wire of a Fourdrinierpaper machine comprising in combination, a structure having oppositetransversely spaced vertical side walls and a stock inlet at the rearend thereof, a pair of elongated rear primary deckle shoes extendinglongitudinally forwardly of said inlet and being transversely adjustabletowards and away from one another, a pair of elongated forward decklerulers extending longitudinally of said side walls forwardly of saidprimary shoes and being transversely adjustable towards and away fromone another, a pair of intermediate secondary shoes between said primaryshoes and deckle rulers and being transversely adjustable towards andaway from one another, a rigid slice extending transversely from wall towall of said structure between adjacent ends of the primary andsecondary shoes of the pairs thereof, a flexible slice extendingtransversely from wall to wall of said structure between adjacent endsof the secondary shoes and deckle rulers of the pairs thereof, separatemounting mechanisms connecting the primary and secondary shoes and thedeckle rulers of the pairs thereof to said walls including means foradjusting the shoes and the rulers of the pair thereof towards and awayfrom one another and longitudinally of said slices for alignment of saidshoes and rulers to establish rearwardly and forwardly and between saidslices a width of deckle inwardly of the ends of said slices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,603,226 Wentz Oct. 12, 1926 1,818,681 Berry Aug. 11, 1931 1,936,609Ieale Nov. 28, 1933

